The Tooth Fairy

"Losing baby teeth were a part and parcel of one’s life — a symbol of growing up, and it is the tooth-fairy that makes this otherwise dreaded and painful process an exciting one — something to look forward to." 

~Mansi Maheshwari

My kids are growing up... it's bittersweet, really. I'm treasuring this two year glimpse into their childhood.  Hearing their first words, watching their first steps, and celebrating them as they grow up.  I thoroughly enjoy going to the dentist office and I even dressed up as the tooth fairy once for Halloween.  Being "the tooth fairy" and celebrating lost teeth with a "minty" and a dalasi has been a fun way to share American culture :-]  

And just how cute are these snaggletooth grins?!

Happy Father's Day!

Happy Father’s Day, Daddy!  Enjoy your “dozen”!

Mmm… Krispy Kreme would be so good right now ;-]

Drives in the truck listening and singing along to the Allman Brothers, Doobie Brothers, ZZ Top, and Bob Segar 

Optimistic~ you are quick to find the good in circumstances and in others

Understanding and kindhearted

God honoring, fearing, and serving

Hugs aplenty that are tight, true, and that tell me I am treasured

Number one grill master, brownie baker, egg deviler, chili cooker, and orange peeler

Up to our necks wading in the ocean when I was little

Telling me how it is time and time again…”guys are stupid”

Sweetest smile, especially when it is shining my way

Much Love!!

Expiration Dates

I remember in Undergrad putting off studying and postponing the reality of final exams and the inevitable ending of the semester.  Then it would hit me.  I would be grocery shopping at Kroger on College Station Road and the expiration date on the milk would be that same date as one of my finals.  Suddenly and sharply the end would feel real, near.

What was once on the horizon was now staring me directly in the face.

A recent Peace Corps Volunteer who was at his Close of Service (COS) eloquently said “I can’t say it will get easier, but I can promise that it will eventually end.” 

Those words have stayed with me.  They have encouraged me.   

It happened after leading a library workshop with a fellow Volunteer.  The celebratory juice packet had an expiration date of September 2015.  All of a sudden it seemed real to me. 

One day my service will end.

I won’t have to eat rice everyday.  I won’t have to endure 115F+ temperatures.  I won’t have to go weeks without talking to my family.  I won’t have to feel inadequate.  I won’t have to hear little children or old people refer rudely to me as an outsider.  I won’t have to take a whole day just to travel 100 miles.  

Today marks eleven months in The Gambia.  Only one month until our one-year in country anniversary.

Today I am thankful for expiration dates.    

Better start packing!!

Moving across the world to serve as a Peace Corps Volunteer for twenty-sevenish months? 

  Choose wisely what stays & what goes!

Here is what has helped me during my service in The Gambia, West Africa.

MQD’s Essential Ten:

FOOD {Gatorade mix, Clif Bars, granola bars, Tootsie Rolls/M&M’s (all other chocolate melts), Skittles, Star Burst, gum, dried fruit, Cheezits/Goldfish, dehydrated soup mixes, beef jerky, packets of tuna/chicken, nuts/seeds…If you pack nothing else, pack food. Seriously.}  

Lap Top* {YES! Bring it…Those who did are thankful and those who didn’t wish that they did. You’ll have lots of typing and reporting to do plus watching a movie every now and then is such a treat. Bringing an extra battery and speakers is also a good idea.}

External Hardrive {“Hello! What’s your name? Where are you from? Can I have all of your data?” is a typical first conversation when new & old Peace Corps Volunteers meet. Please bring us up to the times and download all the latest music, movies, and tv shows that you can fit!}

Solar Charger {My Solio didn’t last long but my Solar Monkey works miracles.}

School Supplies {rubber cement, flash drives, binder clips, Sharpies, page protectors, crayons, accordion folders, tape (packing, duct, scotch, etc.), push pins/thumb tacks, scissors, various sizes of Ziploc bags and bubble mailers}

Umbrella/Rain Jacket {You’ll be arriving with the rains!! Don’t worry about rain boots as flip flops work way better. The umbrella also provides shade during the dry season. The wind gets fierce so buy a strong one!}

Nalgene Water Bottles {Gotta stay hydrated! I brought three with me.}

Fabric {Your Alma Mater, favorite sports team, cartoon character, animal...get creative! It’s a fun way to blend cultures as many Gambians have clothes handmade by tailors. Two meters/yards work well for pants, a wrap skirt, or a shirt.}

Plastic Containers {Various sizes, useful when packing and protecting your things}

Something that feels like home {Maybe it’s a special coffee mug you use every morning, a poster that’s been hung everywhere you’ve lived, pictures of family/friends, magnets, board games, a musical instrument, or a stuffed animal even! If it makes you think of home bring it.  You’ll be turning your hut into your home and these little items help a whole lot.}  

Don’t waste your packing space with clothes {you’ll outgrow them one way or the other}, extra toiletries {yes~ toilet paper, swabs, American brands of shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, deodorant, soap, etc. are available for purchase here}, or extra medical supplies {the Peace Corps Medical Kit is quite extensive}.

Happy Packing! See y’all soonsoon :-]  

And don't worry, somehow it will all magically fit into two suitcases...

 

*I primarily use my iPhone for browsing the Internet while in village, taking pictures, and making international phone calls {I make local phone calls with my Peace Corps issued cell phone}.

Happy Mother's Day!!

 Happy Mother’s Day, Momma! 
Thank you for training me up in the way in which to live a life that is pleasing to the Lord and a blessing to others.

Enjoy your “bouquet”~ I love you!

Finding little notes of Scripture, prayers, and encouragement in the most peculiar places

Listening to the chorus of “this must be your daughter” “y’all are twins” “you have the same smile” whenever I visit you at work 

Observing how you love others well, unconditionally, joyfully, and eagerly

Wasting nothing~bread bags crotched into beach bags to taking the time at traffic lights to reach over and pat my leg while telling me how much you love me

Eating together at our favorite special places Zaxby’s, The Grit, and R. Thomas

Reading to me all my life and opening the world to me through literature

Servants heart~ always ready and willing to lend a helping hand even if it means being the first one to arrive and the last one to leave

It's been fun introducing Mother's Day to my Gambian family & friends as well~

14 days in the US of A

So...I might be addicted to this whole ABC format~ Enjoy the synopsis of my two week vacation home!!

Allman Brother Band was our official traveling music while driving all over Georgia! Thanks Mom & Dad for letting me have “Blue Sky” on repeat. 

Bututs & bottlecaps were a huge hit as gifts from The Gambia

Cello concert performed by my good friend RMP 

Dahlonega’s Bear on the Sqaure bluegrass festival was a perfect ending to my two weeks home.  It was a sweet pleasure sitting under the dogwood trees, feeling the cool spring breeze, looking at the North Georgia mountains, eating kettle corn, listening to the pickin’ and just a grinnin’ with my Mom, Dad, Maw-Maw, Paw-Paw, and Aunt Theresa.

Easter Sunday celebrated with a sermon at Rockdale Community Church, delicious lunch at MawMaw & PawPaw’s with the family, and a lovely hike up Stone Mountain with my best friend Pitcher and his Dad

Fatou’s First Day read to Marbut Mountain Lions and Atlanta Neighborhood Charter Puppy Ninjas. We had a great time discovering similarities and differences between typical school days of American and Gambian children 

Georgia Sea Turtle Center with my fellow PCV Bonnie & her family followed by Georgia wild caught shrimp at the Rah Bar

Homerun, first one ever for Connor, hit on my brother Jeremy’s 34^th birthday

Ice cold temperatures in Conyers compared to my usual 115˚F West African weather

Jeffree Lerner’s artwork was on display at Bear on the Square in Dahlonga, Ga~ how he paints honeybees & turtles makes me smile!  My hut is going to look so stylish with his work.

Krispy Kreme chocolate iced doughnuts & a quick tour of Athens to celebrate Tiffany’s birthday

Lucy Quinn finally met~ just one of the many babies born in the last ten months

Maw-Maw’s homemade Brunswick Stew was my first meal home

Naked dogs, onion rings, fries, & Mayfield ice cream cones at The Varsity with Renee

“Old Dawg, New Dawg” was the motto while visiting my cousin Ella at UGA~ So much has changed in Athens in the last 10 months. Cannot believe she is almost finished with her freshman year of college!

Pork consumed all over the glorious state of Georgia from Big D’s in Dawsonville, Old Hickory House in Tucker, Fresh Air in Jackson, Smokin’ Pig in Macon, all the way to Southern Soul in Saint Simon’s Island

Queso, chips, margaritas, and lots of laughter at Tin Lizzy’s with the one & only Daddy Gator

Rest in Peace, Great Uncle Henry O. Lester

St. Lucia watch out! My friend Joan is going to be such an amazing Peace Corps Volunteer!!

Two new holes in my body~ got my ears gauged at Pain & Wonder in Athens.

Uncle Gene’s Christmas chocolate chip cookies made a special appearance at Easter!

Victorian on 34th in Savannah, Georgia~ current home of my wonderful friend Jessica. My parents and I had such relaxing stay right across from Forsyth Park and just a few blocks from River Street!

Watched Captain Phillips {interesting to view with the perspective of living in Africa for 10 months}, Saving Mr. Banks {absolutely loved this movie!!}, Gravity {the plane went through some terrible turbulence which made it feel real ensuing a slight panic attack}, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel {such a lovely film that reminded me of different facets of being a Peace Corps Volunteer}, All is Lost {Cast Away meets Life of Pi? Made me reconsider wanting to live on a boat. My cousin Charlie is currently working on A Walk in the Woods with Robert Redford & Nick Nolte}, American Hustle {fell asleep during this one, probably a good thing}, Music & Lyrics {an oldie but a goodie}, and Statues of Men {never knew art security took place during the wars}.

X {10} months of service down…17ish more to go! I usually send a celebratory/corny text message to my fellow group members but they are all receiving postcards from Georgia instead! {Surprise, Team ExTreme!}

Yummy Hawaiian ice with my Homeslice aka Auntie Sheryl

Zoo Atlanta was missed out on but Bear Hollow in Athens was well enjoyed!  The gopher tortoises, bald eagles, brown bears, beavers, owls, and turkeys were fun to see enjoying the beautiful spring day

Months 5 through 9

My first ABC post was such a hit so here is an encore post for months six, seven, eight, and nine!!  My PCV friends Popi & Steph also followed suit~ be sure to read their posts as well!!

Auburn (this Bulldawgs’ biggest school rival) has moved in down the road~ one of the new PCVs is an alumni and made a big fuss about Auburn beating Georgia.  Since January, all I have to do is tomahawk chop :-] We’re looking forward to November 15^th, 2014 when Georgia & Auburn face of again.

Bracelets to celebrate each month lived in country were made for me by Big Momma Fatou & her daughter Haddie.  These ladies are talented, kind, and, oh yeah, international celebrities! Check out their story on Holiday Hijack.  The women in village and I like to joke that the bracelets will one day reach my elbow!

Checking in & checking out of books is going quite smoothly at MFLBS!  My teachers are rockstars and are taking the lead in utilizing the library!  We recently received ten full boxes from Books for Africa nearly doubling our inventory. 

“Dega na Wolof” has become my favorite phrase…it means “you hear Wolof.” Slowly, slowly I am able to communicate more effectively with the people of The Gambia with ease and confidence. It’s nice to not feel like a toddler just saying random words in hopes to convey what I mean.  I still have a ways to go but I am enjoying getting this far.  Want to learn Wolof?  Try this website!

Eating “hut-made” popcorn has become one of my favorite snacks and activities.  I won’t be going back to microwave popcorn post-Peace Corps.  I enjoy sprinkling salt, milk powder, and Tandoori Masala (coriander, paprika, cumin, salt, chili powder, garlic, cinnamon) seasoning on top~ delicious!!

Fuukajay fun…imagine a roadside Goodwill clothing department or a clothes only yard sale and you have a fuukajay. I have found some real gems while fuukajaying including this shirt that at first thought I just had to have but decided against it upon further inspection.

Giardia was my latest medical ailment during November…gross!!   

Halloween party in Basse was a hit! We enjoyed a bonfire, cooked an amazing butternut squash soup (adapted from this recipe), danced the night away, made costumes out of fuukajay clothes, and ate all sorts of American candy. I gathered six others and we went as Scrabble tiles!  

IX (nine) more books read: Down Under by Bill Bryson, A Book of Bees by Sue Hubbell, Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson, When a Crocodile Eats The Sun by Peter Godwin, Pride and Prejudice Jane Austen, Crossing the Heart of Africa by Julian Smith, When Things Fall Apart by Pema Chodron, I am in the middle of The Lacuna by Barbara Kingsolver, and my host sister and I just started Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll. 

Journey of my Peace Corps service is 1/3 complete!  I am striving to make the most of each day as time is flying by!  Several Peace Corps Volunteers that have become close friends and sources of inspiration are approaching their Close of Service and will be moving on.  It is bittersweet to see them go but exciting to welcome in the new Peace Corps Trainees.  I am looking forward to building strong relationships with them and showing them the ropes.  I’m also soaking up as much of The Gambia that I can and enjoyed exploring Banjul recently.

Keeping myself hydrated and well rested is one of my top priorities.  The temperature here stays in the hundreds all day.  I am looking forward to the rains to come in June and cool everything off!!

Letter writing is taking place between my 5^th grade students and a 4^th grade class in Longmont, Colorado.  We cannot wait to hear back from each other! If your class would like to participate in a pen pal program with a Peace Corps Volunteer check out World Wise School.

Making my grand debut in the Peace Corps-The Gambia February/March newsletter was quite a thrill! In the Education newsletter, Borrow Me Your This Thing, I used my recent post regarding my experience thus far with the library.  The Gender and Development newsletter featured an interview between me and a fellow Education PCV (who happens to be my birthday buddy) about our mishaps with and views on love.

Nelson Mandela’ passing was quite sobering. One of my teachers, Musa Bah, recalled a time when he taught his students about Mister Mandela in preparation to perform a song for him during a visit to The Gambia.  Mister Mandela was truly an inspiration.  Can you imagine being put in prison for no good reason and having no anger?  He reminds me of Joseph in the Bible.  Positivity, patience, and perseverance pays off. 

Oh Hello’s are my gelligelli traveling listening music of choice.

Plaiting, or hair braiding, is a favorite activity between the village women and myself.  My friends are super talented and can design whatever my imagination comes up with.  A latest creation is below~ we decided to call it rattlesnake! Can you believe it is only one braid?!  Undoing the braids is always a fun reveal!  I’ve always wondered what my hair would look like with a perm…

Quietest baby in the world is my newborn host sister Yassin. She was born on my birthday so I like to joke that we are twins.   

Ram sacrifice for Tobaski was intense! Tobaski is the Muslim holiday commemorating when the Lord provided a ram for Abraham in lieu of him sacrificing his son (for Muslims it was Ishmael, for Christians it was Isaac). My fellow PCV, Jaci, eloquently describes this holiday.

Sub sandwich from Publix (ham, salami, and American cheese on wheat with lettuce, pickles, green peppers, cucumbers and mayonnaise, mustard, oil & vinegar) is the “American meal” I miss most.  

Teething, talking, and pulling up to walk is in full force for my baby brother Samba.  His two top teeth and two bottom teeth have come in recently and several more are on the way. His grin sure is goofy these days!  “Awa Wellan” was his first word.  This little boy has stolen my heart and it is a blessing to watch him grow up.

Under the stars my family eats dinner, brews attaya (Chinese green tea), and chats about the day.  I like to ask the kids how many stars are in the sky and attempting to count them together. One night I taught my family about constellations by pointing out Orion and Ursa Major (the Big Dipper).  Their minds were blown!  We try to find a new constellation each week.

Visiting the States for two weeks in April!! Already planning out my meals…7 of them are found in the Atlanta Airport so I might take my time getting to baggage claim!

Watermelon is in season here September to December~ it’s been delicious!  I ate watermelon on Thanksgiving Day!

Xmas extravaganza!! I celebrated Christmas in Kombo with many of my fellow Peace Corps Volunteers. It was quite a cheery time as we incorporated everyone’s favorite holiday traditions. 

Yoga retreat in Bwiam was a restful, relaxing, and reenergizing experience.  There were sessions of all kinds: partner yoga, lunar yoga, strength training yoga, walking meditation, mandala drawing, and water yoga. 

Za, or pizza for all you nonScrabblers, at Maya’s Restaurant in Kombo is delicious!! Surprisingly, chicken and corn with mayonnaise drizzled on top goes well on pizza.